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SINGAPORE – TWO years: That’s how long Mark Bonafide, aka Mark Subra, has taken to finally release his debut solo album, The Bonafide Experience.

Why so long? “I was working with Don Richmond, Jason Tan and Taufik Batisah on this one. We kept going back and forth as we tried to pick the songs for the album,” he said.

“It was quite difficult, actually.In the end, we just chose what Don and I really liked. Luckily I didn’t rush it.

“I’d do it all over again.”

This was a solo album, but Bonafide said he couldn’t take all the credit for it. “I see it as a collaboration. It’s my vision, but it’s their (Don, Jason and Taufik) tools. They helped me get to where I wanted to be.”

Speaking of collaborations, the album also features a bonus track, Round and Round, which he performed with singer Alicia Pan. The song is featured in the homegrown musical, Sleepless Town.

“It was a song done by Don and Jason. They wanted a pop song for radio and they got Alicia in to do the vocals, and since I was working with Don on my album, they got me in as well,” said the 29-year-old rapper. “The funny thing is we never met until after the recording at a party. We did communicate by Facebook though!”

“Yeah, we never met during the recording itself,” said Alicia, 24. “I did my part, and Mark did his separately. The Live ‘n’ Loaded show was the first time we performed together in front of an audience.”

Added Bonafide: “Funnily enough, we’re both going to be performing at Mosaic Music Festival, but not together! She’s got one set and I’m following after. Maybe we can segue with Round and Round. If they’re not strict about it, I might just grab a mic and jump onstage with her!”

As for his expectations for his album, Bonafide wants to go all the way. “I just want it to set a milestone in terms of hip-hop and R&B in Singapore. I don’t mean to sound cocky, but really, I hope people hear it and go: ‘I’ve never heard anything like it in Singapore.'”

But, he said, that’s only because he thinks that Singapore has a “great music scene”.

“I think we can kick the international music scene’s butt. I hope that in 10 years’ time, we’ll be at a stage where international acts will envy us!”

The Bonafide Experience is out in shops now. Alicia Pan and Mark Bonafide perform at Mosaic Music Festival March 13, 7.30pm and 8.40pm, respectively, at the Nokia Music Station (Outdoor Theatre). –

SINGAPORE: Being in a rock band can be a dangerous thing for your reputation – especially if you’re Japs Sergio, bassist for Philippine rock band Rivermaya, and your bandmates are the ones jerking your chain because you’re not present for an interview.

Drummer Mark Escueta, guitarist Mike Elgar and singer Jayson Fernandez were on the phone with TODAY from the Philippines and they jokingly rattled off a laundry list of Sergio’s bad habits: “He snores really loud”, “He’s always drunk”, “Whenever we go on tour outside the Philippines or maybe just outside Manila, he tries to do everything in one night” and “Sometimes he wakes up late for interviews”.

The band is in a jolly mood not just because it’s the Yuletide holidays, but also because they’ll be performing at the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown to ring in the New Year.

The show will be broadcast live on MediaCorp TV Channel 5 and will feature performances by Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza and Superband winners Rabbit, among others.

Rivermaya’s last gig in Singapore was in April 2007, and the boys can’t wait to come back to show off their new vocalist.

After former singer Rico Blanco left the band last year, they organised an American Idol-like audition process that was televised in the Philippines.

Over 500 candidates turned up to be Rivermaya’s new singer, but in the end it was 18-year-old Fernandez who got the slot.

“We had two days of auditions and… we narrowed it down to the final 13 and, ironically, Jayson was number 13,” said Elgar. “Lucky 13, actually.”

And what was Fernandez’s winning factor? “I think it was because he seemed to have lots of money!” said Escueta, laughing. “No, I’m joking. You could feel the excitement and the energy from him, like you know he really wanted this.”

Added Fernandez: “I’ve always been a fan of the band, and now I’m one of them… I feel so blessed to be here. I’m so excited to go (to Singapore) – it’s my first time.”

As for plans in 2009, the band said they’re looking to work on their new album, and they want to collaborate with more artistes.

“We did a song with Electrico two years ago (All the World) and we’d like to do more of that,” said Escueta. “Maybe people like Peter Pan from Indonesia or Agnes Monica – she’s amazing. And of course, Electrico again. We love Electrico!”

SINGAPORE : Half a million dollars – that’s how much a forgotten lyric might cost you if you are a contestant on new Channel 5 game show, “Don’t Forget the Lyrics”.

Hosted by local celebrity, Gurmit Singh, contestants are required to sing out – karaoke style – the words to fill in the blanks in the song. And if you can keep singing it right for 10 songs, you’ll walk away with S$500,000!

Easy peasy you say? Well, not quite.

“These people who come along thinking they know the song and when the music stops, the lyrics go away, they get stumped!” Gurmit said.

“My theory is this, when people see blanks, dashes, their minds go blank as well.”

Each game consists of three tiers which are divided into nine levels. The difficulty of the challenge increases with each tier and the tiers dictate how many blank lyrics contestants have to remember and sing within a stipulated time.

Contestants have to get every exact lyric correct to pass the stage, and like “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”, they can get help if they wish to.

Each contestant is entitled to three lifelines also known as “backups” that they can use when they are stuck at any point of the competition. But each backup can only be used once.

“Backup Singer” allows the contestant to bring a friend or family member on stage to help sing the missing lyrics.

If contestants opt for “Two Words”, they can choose any two words they have filled in to check if they are right.

The last, “3 Lines”, allows contestants to pick the correct answer from three multiple choice options.

“Every time you answer correctly, you keep going up (the different levels), higher and higher. But every time you lock in the words and they are wrong, any single word, any single punctuation is wrong, you go to either zero or S$10,000 threshold level,” Gurmit explained.

The game show also features celebrity contestants like MediaCorp actresses Fiona Xie and Jade Seah, characters from Channel 5 sitcoms such as Phua Chu Kang (Gurmit Singh), Sergeant Dollah (Suhaimi Yusof), Adrianna Wow and Barbarella Chanel (both played by Michelle Chong) and even “Singapore Idol” winners Taufik Batisah and Hady Mirza, as well as runner-up Jonathan Leong.

But the one to look out for is actress Andrea Fonseka who is “really good”. “She knows many songs, she’s like a walking encyclopedia,” said Gurmit.

“Don’t Forget the Lyrics” premiered last year in the United States, and Singapore is the 30th country in the world to showcase the popular game show. It premieres Thursday, 27 November, at 8pm on MediaCorp’s Channel 5.

SINGAPORE: Three individuals and two teams will receive the Singapore Youth Award at the Istana on Sunday. The award recognises outstanding achievements and contributions by exemplary youths.

One of the recipients is Mr Taufik Batisah – for his achievements in the local and regional music scene, and for being an inspiring role model to youths from all walks of life.

He is the first Singapore Idol and has been a youth ambassador for the Health Promotion Board and the Community Chest.

Another recipient is Dr Ng How Yong – for his scientific excellence and consistent dedication to youths. He is currently overseeing a total of 15 research grants amounting to S$5 million.

The third recipient is Dr Tan Min-Han, who will also be recognised for his scientific excellence and his ability to inspire the next generation.

The medical oncologist at the National Cancer Centre is a clinician-scientist dedicated to cancer research. He has developed a novel method of using gene chips to predict survival outcomes of kidney cancer patients.

One of the two teams to receive the Singapore Youth Award is The Finger Players, which will be recognised for its efforts in pushing the conventions of theatre in pursuit of greater artistic excellence and for using drama to connect with people.

As one of Singapore’s leading theatre companies, The Finger Players has performed in 19 festivals around the world, and is involved in local arts outreach and charity programmes.

The other team which will receive the award on Sunday is the Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes – for nurturing youths through social entrepreneurship projects.

A joint initiative by Citibank and Singapore’s YMCA, the programme has raised over S$2.16 million for more than 150 voluntary welfare organisations since it was launched in 2002.

The programme also develops youths through a mentorship initiative that equips participants with project management and leadership skills.